System and method of predicting co2 breakthrough and absorbent replacement

ABSTRACT

The system and method of the present application predicts if there is sufficient CO 2  absorbent capacity for the next anesthesia case. If insufficient, the canister can be preemptively replaced when no patient is connected to the breathing system. Such prediction also allows clinicians to determine if the CO 2  canister has to be changed during the present case or to wait until the end of the case. In the latter, the clinician may buy time by increasing the fresh gas flow rate to reduce the amount of patient CO 2  gases recirculated. A predictive estimation of CO 2  breakthrough allows more time to prepare for an orderly CO 2  canister replacement during a quiet period in the anesthesia care.

FIELD

The present application is directed to the field of patient ventilators. More specifically, the present application is directed to ventilator circuit carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal.

BACKGROUND

A circle system is used to ventilate patients undergoing general anesthesia. To minimize wastage of excess expired anesthetic breathed out by the patient, the circle breathing system is designed to enable patient expired gases to be rebreathed after carbon dioxide is removed using CO₂ absorbent. In addition, oxygen and anesthetic agent is replenished to maintain desired concentration of gases breathed by the patient. CO₂ absorbent housed in a canister has a finite capacity to remove CO₂ from the expired patient gases. They can be replaced at the start of day or end of day on a routine basis. This is wasteful as unused absorbent capacity is discarded.

Alternatively, the absorbent is replaced during an anesthesia case when it is spent. This is detected by measurement of significant inspired CO₂ concentration. A typical threshold value is 0.5% of sustained inspired CO₂ concentration. This cost saving practice exposes the patient while unconscious and requires mechanical ventilation assistance during anesthesia, where the risk is disruption of ventilation that include temporarily pausing ventilation, disconnecting the breathing system, installing a CO₂ canister with fresh absorbent, checking the integrity of the reconnected breathing system, and resuming ventilation.

Dye with color changes in the presence of CO₂ is also used to indicate sent absorbent, as is computation of remaining CO₂ absorption capacity based on the absorbent refilled quantity and rate of CO₂ recirculated. Since quantity of refill and efficiency of the packed absorbent is a poor estimate of usable absorbent, the estimator/gauge is inaccurate.

SUMMARY

The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

The system and method of the present application predicts if there is sufficient CO₂ absorbent capacity for the next anesthesia case. If insufficient, the canister can be preemptively replaced when no patient is connected to the breathing system. Such prediction also allows clinicians to determine if the CO₂ canister has to be changed during the present case or to wait until the end of the case. In the latter, the clinician may buy time by increasing the fresh gas flow rate to reduce the amount of patient CO₂ gases recirculated. A predictive estimation of CO₂ breakthrough allows more time to prepare for an orderly CO₂ canister replacement during a quiet period in the anesthesia care.

In one aspect of the present application, a computerized method of predicting carbon dioxide (CO₂) breakthrough in an anesthesia ventilator comprises inputting into a computing system a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement, inputting into the computing system a set of data received from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂, determining whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold, extrapolating, a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO₂ absorbent replacement threshold, and calculating a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time.

In another aspect of the present application, a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed on a computing system, cause the computing system to receive from a user interlace a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement, receive a set of data from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂, determine whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold, extrapolate a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO₂ absorbent replacement threshold, and calculate a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time.

In another aspect of the present application, an anesthesia ventilator comprises a CO₂ canister containing CO₂ absorbent, a computing system including the storage device and a processor, the storage device including instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the computing system to receive from a user interface a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement for the CO₂ absorbent, receive a set of data from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂, determine whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold, extrapolate a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO₂ absorbent replacement threshold, wherein the extrapolation utilizes a set of predetermined parameters, and calculate a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time, and output the CO₂ absorbent replacement time to a user interface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a breathing circuit illustrating an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a breathing circuit illustrating an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method in accordance with an embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the system of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be applied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to be broadly construed. The different systems and methods described herein may be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claims is intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitly recited in the respective limitation.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the system and method of the present application relates to an anesthesia ventilator 10 with a circle breathing system 12 having a CO₂ canister 14 with absorbent (abs). The patient 22 is ventilated via mechanically through a volume reservoir (e.g. bellows, inflatable bag, long gas conduit) or manual bag (not shown). Concentrations of inspired and expired gases breathed by the patient 22 are monitored by a gas monitor (not shown). Gas concentrations measured include O₂, CO₂, N₂O, air, and anesthetic gas. Inspired and expired gas flows are measured and gas volumes are computed by integrating the flow over a breath. As in any circle anesthesia breathing system 12, fresh gases (FG) 16 are added to replenish gases consumed by the patient 22. Excess FG 16 that is not consumed by the patient 22 is exhausted via an exhaust (exh) 24 having a pop off valve. Recirculated expired CO₂ passes through the CO₂ canister 14 and are absorbed by the CO₂ abs. As absorbent is spent, some CO₂ passes through the CO₂ canister 14 and is diluted by the FG 16 to form part of the inspired patient 22 gases. The measured concentration of inspired CO₂ is reported to a computing system 200 that predicts the rate of concentration increase of CO₂ breakthrough.

Referring to FIG. 1, the anesthesia ventilator 10 includes a circle breathing system 12 as stated above. The circle breathing system 12 includes an expiratory hose 20, the inspiratory hose 18, and the CO₂ canister 14, that make up the main portion of the circle breathing system 12. The circle breathing system 12 further includes the breathing hose that leads to the patient 20, as well as the fresh gases 16 source and the exhaust 24. As pictures in FIG. 1, the gases flow in a clockwise direction in the circle breathing system 12 shown in FIG. 1, and the hose that connects the patient 22 to the circle breathing system 12 allows gas flow to and from the circle breathing system 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Gas flows in the circle breathing system is directed by two one-way valves typically located in line with the inspiratory (18) and expiratory (20) breathing hoses. The fresh gases 16 source flowing from a high pressure supply flow one-way direction into the circle breathing system 12. Likewise, the exhaust 24 allows one-way flow to ambient or scavenging and away from the circle breathing system 12 which is positively pressured during ventilation. In high flow recirculating anesthesia system a blower fan (flowing in excess of 50 lpm) determines the unidirectional flow of the recirculating gas flows.

Referring to FIG. 2, it should be noted that all of the references to the various formulas and abbreviations will be described and defined in the following description. Furthermore, it should be noted that the arrows included in the circle breathing system 12 of FIG. 2 are illustrative of gas flow direction of the circle breathing system 12.

As stated above, current dye solutions to indicate spent absorbent are imprecise and the dye color changes tend to regenerate. Predicting CO₂ expenditure of absorbent based on recirculated CO₂ without considering CO₂ concentration breakthrough is associated with error from uncertain absorption capacity based on quantity of absorbent refilled. Inefficiencies in the CO₂ absorption such as channeling, operating temperatures that contribute to this uncertainty.

However, the system and method of the present application utilizes the actual breakthrough CO₂ concentration to extrapolate the instance when a threshold CO₂ will be reached given current or what if operating setting of the breathing system.

Knowing when and if the absorbent in the CO₂ canister 14 can last through the next case allows the canister 14 to be replaced when the patient 22 is not connected between anesthesia cases, and when the canister 14 will not last through the next anesthesia case

Referring now the FIGS. 1 and 2, the derivation of Gas Exchange in the System will be determined as follows:

First considering the gas exchange in the lungs; inspired gases breathed into the lungs equal expired gases breathed out of the lungs plus gas entering or leaving the lungs from pulmonary blood. Applying conservation of mass to CO₂ exchange over a breath;

Inspired CO₂ volume=expired CO₂ volume+CO₂ from blood

or V_(T)×FiCO₂=V_(T)×FeCO₂+VCO₂, where V_(T) is the tidal volume per breath (in mL/min), FiCO₂ is the averaged inspired CO₂ concentration, and VCO₂ is the CO₂ production (in mL/min), in other words, CO₂ from the pulmonary blood. The product of tidal volume (V_(T)) and respiratory rate per minutes yield minute ventilation

$\begin{matrix} {{{Rearranging}\mspace{14mu} {{Fe}{CO}}_{2}} = {{{Fi}{CO}}_{2} - \frac{{V{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}} & (1) \end{matrix}$

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the movement of CO₂ in the circle breathing system 12 over a breath inspired and expired gas movement to the patient 22 are transported by the ventilator 10 at the rate of minute ventilation which is the product of tidal volume (VT) and respiratory rate per minute. In some high flow recirculating ventilators, the recirculating flows can be much higher than minute ventilation. However, the effective flow of gas exchange with the lungs remains at the rate of minute ventilation. As such, the high flow recirculation helps to even out gas concentration in the circle breathing system 12 but has the same effective gas exchange rate with the patient 22 and consumption of CO₂ absorbent, and is thus considered as equivalent in its gas exchange over a breath as the conventional circle system 12.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the movement of CO₂ through the CO₂ canister 14 per breath includes applying from the law of conservation applied over a breath, where inflow of CO₂ into the canister 14 equals outflow of CO₂ from the canister 14 plus CO₂ absorbed by the CO₂ absorbent in the canister 14. Inflow of CO₂ into the absorber 14 equals CO₂ expired by the patient 22 less CO₂ exhausted via the exhaust 24, so

$\begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} {{volume} = {{V_{T} \times {FeCO}_{2}} - {V_{exh} \times {FeCO}_{2}}}} \\ {= {\left( {V_{T} - V_{exh}} \right) \times {FeCO}_{2}}} \end{matrix} & (2) \end{matrix}$

where FeCO₂ is the average patient 22 expired gases. FeCO₂ can be derived from the end tidal CO₂ measured using a gas monitor, which is used routinely as a standard of anesthesia care, and using the formula

${{FeCO}_{2} = {E_{T}{{CO}_{2}\left( {1 - \frac{V_{D}}{V_{T}}} \right)}}},$

where E_(T)CO₂ is the measured end tidal CO₂ and V_(D) is the deadspace per breath and the ratio of

$\frac{V_{D}}{V_{T}}$

is typically about 10 to 20%. The outflow of CO₂ from the canister 14=V_(R)×F_(R)CO₂, where

$\begin{matrix} {V_{R} = {{tidal}\mspace{14mu} {volume}\mspace{14mu} {to}\mspace{14mu} {the}\mspace{14mu} {patient}\mspace{14mu} 22\mspace{14mu} {less}\mspace{14mu} {the}\mspace{14mu} {fresh}{\mspace{11mu} \;}{gas}\mspace{14mu} {flow}}} \\ {{{in}\mspace{14mu} a\mspace{14mu} {breath}\mspace{14mu} {interval}\mspace{14mu} ({Vfg})}} \\ {{= {V_{T} - V_{fg}}},{{and}\mspace{14mu} {is}\mspace{14mu} {the}\mspace{14mu} {total}\mspace{14mu} {gas}\mspace{14mu} {flow}\mspace{14mu} {from}\mspace{14mu} {the}\mspace{14mu} {CO}_{2}\mspace{14mu} {{absorber}.}}} \end{matrix}$

Now, substituting gas flow into the CO₂ flow through the CO₂ canister 14 yields:

(V _(T) −V _(exh))×FeCO₂=(V _(T) −V _(fg))×F _(R)CO₂ +DCO₂,

where DCO₂ is the CO₂ absorbed by the CO₂ canister 14 over the breath time. Rearranging and solving for F_(R)CO₂ yields:

$\begin{matrix} {{F_{R}{CO}_{2}} = \frac{{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{exh}}{V_{T}}} \right) \times {FeCO}_{2}} - \frac{{D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{fg}}{V_{T}}} \right)}} & (3) \end{matrix}$

Considering the confluence of fresh gas 16 and CO₂ outflow of the CO₂ canister 14 where the fresh as 14 free of CO₂ dilutes the recirculating CO₂ concentration from the CO₂ canister 14 to yield the inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂):

V _(R) ×F _(R)CO₂ +V _(fg) ×F _(fg)CO₂ =V _(T) ×FiCO₂   (4)

Since fresh gas is free of CO₂, F_(fg)CO₂=0 yielding:

V _(R) ×F _(R)CO₂ =V _(T) ×FiCO₂

Substituting V_(R)=V_(T)−V_(fg) and rearranging yields:

$\begin{matrix} {{F_{R}{CO}_{2}} = \frac{F_{i}{CO}_{2}}{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{fg}}{V_{T}}} \right)}} & (5) \end{matrix}$

Further substitute (5) into (3) and solving for F_(i)CO₂ yields:

$\begin{matrix} {{{Fi}{CO}}_{2} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{exh}}{V_{T}}} \right){FeCO}_{2}} - \frac{{D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

Still referring to FIG. 2, since V_(exh) is the net excess gas volume popped off from the circle breathing system 12 and the net excess gas volume is made up of fresh gas 16, patient CO₂ production, O₂ uptake (metabolism), agent exchange and CO₂ absorbed by the CO₂ canister 14. V_(exh) can be derived from the equation:

V _(exh) =V _(CO) ₂ −DCO₂ +V _(fg) −V _(O) ₂ −V _(AX)   (7)

During anesthesia maintenance phase, V_(CO) ₂ , V_(O) ₂ fairly constant and at agent equilibrium the agent uptake V_(AX) is fairly constant and small compared to V_(CO) ₂ and V_(O) ₂ . For simplicity, let V_(C) represent the net gas exchange from the fresh gas and the patient, i.e.:

V _(C) =V _(fg) +V _(CO) ₂ −V _(O) ₂ −V _(AX), and

substituting V_(C) into (T) and (6) yield:

$\begin{matrix} {\begin{matrix} {{{Fi}{CO}}_{2} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{C} - {D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}} \right){FeCO}_{2}} - \frac{{D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}} \\ {= {{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{C}}{V_{T}}} \right){FeCO}_{2}} - {\frac{{D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}\left( {1 - {FeCO}_{2}} \right)}}} \end{matrix}{or}{{{Fi}{CO}}_{2} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{V_{C}}{V_{T}}} \right){FeCO}_{2}} - \frac{{D{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}}{{{since}\mspace{14mu} {FeCO}_{2}} \cong 0.051.}} & (8) \end{matrix}$

Considering a sequence of regular breathing during anesthesia, leading, up to the n^(th) breath where the V_(T) and V_(CO) ₂ remain constant is:

V _(T) ^(n) =V _(T) ^(n−1) = . . . =V _(T) and V_(CO2) ^(n−1) = . . . V _(CO2)

At CO₂ break through, DCO₂ decreases as additional CO₂ is absorbed in each break.

From C1 we have:

$\begin{matrix} {{{{Fe}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{V^{n}{CO}_{2}}{V_{T}^{n}}}}{{{or}\mspace{14mu} {Fe}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{{V{CO}}_{2}}{V_{T}}}}} & (9) \end{matrix}$

From C8 we have:

$\begin{matrix} {{{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}_{{CO}_{2}}^{n - 1}} - \frac{D^{n}{CO}_{2}}{V_{T}^{n}}}}{or}{{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{D^{n}{CO}_{2}}{VT}}}} & (10) \end{matrix}$

That is new inspired FiCO₂ concentration is the result of circulating the partially exhausted and absorbed patient CO₂ breath and further diluted by the fresh gas 16. Since Fi^(n)CO₂, Fe^(n−1)CO₂, V_(C), VT are measured, set or approximately known, D^(n)CO₂ can be computed as:

$\begin{matrix} {{D^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {\left\{ {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}} - {{Fi}^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}}} \right\}*{VT}}} & (11) \end{matrix}$

At the previous (n−1) breath,

$\begin{matrix} {{Fi}_{{CO}_{2}}^{n - 1} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}_{{CO}_{2}}^{n - 2}} - \frac{D^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}}{VT}}} & (12) \end{matrix}$

Depending on the design of the absorber canister 14, and the absorbent, at CO₂ breakthrough the rate of change of CO₂ depletion as the absorbent is spent can be constant, linearly or nonlinearly proportion to the remaining capacity of the CO₂ absorbent. In this description, assuming that the change in depletion rate per breath is a constant D or,

D ^(n−1)CO₂ =D ^(n)CO₂ −D   (13)

In order to extrapolate and predict the responses of FiCO₂ and FeCO₂, D^(n)CO₂ and D must be solved. Substituting (13) into (12) yield:

$\begin{matrix} {{{Fi}^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n - 2}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{{D^{n}{CO}_{2}} - D}{VT}}} & (14) \end{matrix}$

Since D^(n)CO₂ can be found from equation (11), D can be computed using measured and approximated values of Fe^(n−1)Co₂, Fe^(n−2)CO₂, V_(C), VT. With D known on a breath-to-breath basis the future response of F_(i) ^(n+k)CO2 can be predicted using the following set of equations:

Applying equation (10) to predict k number of breaths into the future yield,

$\begin{matrix} {{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n - 1}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{D^{n}{CO}_{2}}{VT}}} & \left( {15a} \right) \\ {{{Fi}^{n + 1}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{{D^{n}{CO}_{2}} + D}{VT}}} & \left( {15b} \right) \\ {\vdots \vdots {or}} & (15) \\ {{{Fi}^{n + k}{CO}_{2}} = {{\left( {1 - \frac{VC}{VT}} \right){Fe}^{n + k}{CO}_{2}} - \frac{{D^{n}{CO}_{2}} + {kD}}{VT}}} & \left( {15k} \right) \end{matrix}$

Likewise applying equation (9) to predict k number of breaths into the future yields,

$\begin{matrix} {{{Fe}^{n}{CO}_{2}} = {{{Fi}^{n}{CO}_{2}} + \frac{{V{CO}}_{2}}{VT}}} & \left( {16a} \right) \\ {{{Fe}^{n + 1}{CO}_{2}} = {{{Fi}^{n + 1}{CO}_{2}} + \frac{{V{CO}}_{2}}{VT}}} & \left( {16b} \right) \\ {\vdots \vdots {or}} & (16) \\ {{{Fe}^{n + k}{CO}_{2}} = {{{Fi}^{n + k}{CO}_{2}} + {\frac{{V{CO}}_{2}}{VT}.}}} & \left( {16k} \right) \end{matrix}$

The system of equations 15 and 16 can be iterated and solved sequentially to predict the CO₂ concentrations at the n+k breath, or the number of breaths k) needed to reach a concentration of FiCO₂ breakthrough.

In a particular example, assume that at breath n, the breakthrough inspired CO₂ FiCO₂ is at 0.1% and at breath n+k the breakthrough CO₂ is Fi^(n+k)CO₂ is 0.5%. The time for the FiCO₂ to rise from 0.1% to 0.5% is therefore k times the breath interval.

Note that the user can change the values of say Vfg, VT, VCO₂ or other related ventilations parameter to predict “what if” situations if these parameters are varied. Such variation is helpful to assist the clinician to adjust future values of ventilation or the fresh gas 16 setting to prolong or better estimate the duration of CO₂ breakthrough, and for the given CO₂ canister 14 be replaced.

For linear and non-linear proportional changes in the depletion rate of absorbent, a similar approach can be used to iteratively solve these two sets of equations to predict future responses of FiCO₂ breakthrough. In this case, several breaths leading to the nth breath may be required to solve for D^(n)CO₂ and the depletion profile of the absorbent.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a method of the present application is illustrated in the flow chart. In the method 100, at the start of an anesthesia case, users set or default FiCO₂ thresholds for minimum measureable FiCO₂ and CO₂ absorbent replacement R input. In step 104, V_(fg), Vmv, FiCO₂, FeCO₂ from the anesthesia machine, ventilator and gas monitor are set and/or measured and inputted into the computing system. In step 106, if the minimum detectable FiCO₂ is met, then the method moves on to step 108. If the minimum detectable FiCO₂ is not met in step 106, then the method remains at step 106 until the minimum detectable FiCO₂ is obtained. In step 108, the CO₂ depletion model is updated and constants that describe the FiCO₂ response are computed, and in step 110, if the user does not request an “what if” prediction, then the method continues to step 112. It the user does request as “what if” predictions in step 110, then the method continues to step 120.

Still referring to the method 100, in step 120, the user alternate “what if” parameters are inputted. Examples of such inputs are fresh gas and ventilation parameters and the CO₂. In step 122, alternate “what if” parameters are used to extrapolate and compute the number of breaths to reach FiCO₂ threshold to replace the CO₂ absorbent. In step 124, the replacement time is determined based on the number of breaths to threshold times the breath intervals, and in step 126, the method reports and displays the “what if” ventilator and fresh gas delivery parameters, and time to replace the CO₂ absorbent. If this is the end of the anesthesia case in step 118, then the method ends. If this is not the end of the anesthesia case, then the method goes back to step 104.

Still referring to FIG. 3 and the method 100, in step 112 the set/measured parameters are used to extrapolate the number of breaths for FiCO₂ to reach a threshold to replace the CO₂ absorbent. In step 114, the time for replacement is calculated by the number of breaths to the threshold times the breath intervals, and in step 116, the current ventilator and fresh gas delivery parameters and time to replace the CO₂ absorbent are reported and displayed for the user. Once again, in step 118, if the end of the anesthesia case has been reached, then the method ends. However, if the end of the anesthesia case has not been reached, then the method continues in step 104.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of as computing system 200 as may be used to implement embodiments of the method 100, or in carrying out embodiments of portions of the anesthesia ventilator 10. The computing system 200 includes a processing system 206, storage system 204, software 202, communication interface 208, and as user interface 210. The processing system 206 loads and executes software 202 from the storage system 204, including a software module 230. When executed by the computing system 200, software module 230 directs the processing system to operate as described herein in further detail in accordance with the method 200, or a portion thereof. It should be noted that the computing system 200 may be configured in a number of locations proximate or remote from the anesthesia ventilator 10. For example, the computing system 200 may be included in the ventilator 10 in the RFID reader 30, and/or in any user workstation proximate to the ventilator 150 or remote in a practitioner's station, care station, or other computer station.

Although the computing system 200 as depicted in FIG. 4 includes one application module 230 in the present example, it is to be understood that one or more modules could provide the same operations or that exemplary embodiments of the method 100 may be carried out by a plurality of modules 230. Similarly, while the description as provided herein refers to a computing system 200 and a processing system 206, it is to be recognized that implementations of such system can be performed by using one or more processors 206, which may be communicatively connected, and such implementations are considered with be within the scope of the description. Exemplarily, such implementations may be used in carrying out embodiments of the system 10 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the processing system 206 can comprise a microprocessor or other circuitry that retrieves and executes software 202 from storage system 204. Processing system 206 can be implemented within a single processing device but can also be distributed across multiple processing devices or sub-systems that cooperate in executing programming instructions. Examples of processing system 206 includes general purpose central processing units, application specific processor, and logic devices, as well as any other type of processing device, combinations of processing device, or variations thereof. The storage system 204 can include any storage media readable by the processing system 206 and capable of storing the software 202. The storage system 304 can include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method of technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Storage system 204 can be implemented as a single storage device but may also be implemented across multiple storage devices or sub-systems. Storage system 204 can further include additional elements, such as a controller capable of communicating with the processing system 206.

Examples of storage media include random access memory, read only memory, magnetic disc, optical discs, flash memory, virtual and non-virtual memory, magnetic sets, magnetic tape, magnetic disc storage or other magnetic storage devices or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and that may be accessed by an instruction execution system, as well as any combination or variation thereof, or any other type of storage medium. In some implementations, the storage media can be a non-transitory storage media. It should be understood that in no case the storage media propagated signal.

User interface 210 can include a mouse, a keyboard, a voice input device, a touch input device for receiving a gesture from a user, a motion input device for detecting non-touch gestures, and other motions by a user, and other comparable input devices and associated processing elements capable of receiving user input from a user. User interface 210 can also include output devices such as a video display or a graphical display that can display an interface associated with embodiments of the systems and methods as disclosed herein. Speakers, printers, haptic devices, and other types of output devices may also be included in the user interface 210. The user interface 210 is configured to receive user inputs 240 which in non-limiting embodiments may be irregularity user preferences as disclosed in further detail herein. It is also understood that embodiments of the user interface 210 can include a graphical display that presents the reports or alerts as described in further detail herein.

As has been described in further detail herein, the communication interface 208 is configured to receive gas measurement concentrations 220. The anesthesia ventilator data 225 includes all data set of measured and utilized in the formulas discussed above with respect to FIG. 2. Accordingly, the gas measurement concentrations 220 and the rest of the anesthesia ventilator data 225 is inputted into the communication interface 208. User input 240 as described in the description of FIG. 2 and the method of FIG. 3, is input into the user interface 210. The computing system 200 processes the measured patient gas concentrations 220 including concentrations of inspired and expired CO₂, anesthesia ventilator data 225 and user input 240 according to the software 302 and method 100, and as described in detail herein to produce output data 250 which may be pushed to one or more users through the user interface 310. The output data 250 may include any analysis conducted by the computing system including current ventilator and fresh gas delivery parameters, time to replace CO₂ absorbent, “what if” ventilator and fresh gas delivery parameters, and “what if” time to replace CO₂ absorbent information. Further as described herein, the computing system 200 can output alerts, and/or reports 250 to the user, and may further accept user input 240, such as but not limited to, setting off of alerts, modifications of the reports, and other administration of the alerts and data.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should not limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computerized method of predicting carbon dioxide (CO₂) breakthrough in an anesthesia ventilator, the method comprising: inputting into a computing system a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement; inputting, into the computing system a set of data received from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂; determining whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold; extrapolating a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO² absorbent replacement threshold; and calculating a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computing system outputting the CO2 absorbent replacement time to a user interface.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the CO₂ absorbent replacement time is outputted to a display.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the computing system outputting a set of current ventilator parameters and a set of fresh gas delivery parameters.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating the inputting into the computing system the set of data received from the anesthesia ventilator after outputting the CO₂ absorbent replacement time when an anesthesia case is not complete.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data received from the anesthesia ventilator further includes an average patient expired gases (FeCO₂), a volume per breath of fresh gas (Vfg), and a tidal volume per breath (VT).
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a CO₂ depletion model and computing a set of constants that illustrate a measured FiCO₂ response after the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the extrapolating step utilizes a set of pre-determined parameters.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein a user may choose to use an alternate set of pre-determined parameters in the extrapolating step and the calculating step.
 10. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed on a computing system, cause the computing system to: receive from a user interface a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement; receive a set of data from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂; determine whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold; extrapolate a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO₂ absorbent replacement threshold; and calculate a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time.
 11. The medium of claim 10, further comprising the instructions causing the computing system to output the CO₂ absorbent replacement time to a user interface.
 12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the CO₂ absorbent replacement time is outputted to a display.
 13. The medium of claim 11, further comprising the instructions causing the computing system to output a set of current ventilator parameters and a set of fresh gas delivery parameters.
 14. The medium of claim 11, further comprising the instructions causing the computing system to repeat the step of receiving the set of data from the anesthesia ventilator after outputting the CO₂ absorbent replacement time when an anesthesia case is not complete.
 15. The medium of claim 11, wherein the set of data received from the anesthesia ventilator further includes an average patient expired gases (FeCO₂), a volume per breath of fresh gas (Vfg), and a tidal volume per breath (VT).
 16. The medium of claim 11, further comprising the instructions causing the computer system to update a CO² depletion model and compute a set of constants that illustrate a measured FiCO₂ response after the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold.
 17. The medium of claim 11, wherein the extrapolating step utilizes a set of pre-determined parameters.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a user may choose to use an alternate set of pre-determined parameters in the extrapolating step and the calculating step.
 19. An anesthesia ventilator, comprising: a CO₂ canister containing CO₂ absorbent; a computing system including the storage device and a processor, the storage device including instructions that, when executed on the processor, cause the computing system to: receive from a user interface a pre-determined minimum threshold for a minimum averaged inspired CO₂ concentration (FiCO₂) and a CO₂ absorbent replacement for the CO₂ absorbent; receive a set of data from the anesthesia ventilator, wherein the set of data includes a measured FiCO₂; determine whether the measured FiCO₂ exceeds the pre-determined minimum threshold; extrapolate a number of breaths for the measured FiCO₂ to reach the CO₂ absorbent replacement threshold, wherein the extrapolation utilizes a set of predetermined parameters; and calculate a CO₂ absorbent replacement time with the number of breaths and a breaths interval time, and output the CO₂ absorbent replacement time to a user interface.
 20. The anesthesia ventilator of claim 19, wherein a user may choose to use an alternate set of predetermined parameters in the extrapolating step and the calculating step. 